Benedict Cumberbatch in row with neighbours over plan for 'noisy' boiler room at new £2.7m Victorian home

Benedict Cumberbatch, the Sherlock actor, faces a planning battle after concerns were raised over his plans to build a "noisy" boiler room at his new home.

The 39-year-old bought a five-bedroom villa in Camden, north London, for just over £2.7m last April - but did not move in.

Instead, the actor - who married opera director Sophie Hunter last year - got builders to put up hoardings around the Victorian property while he made plans to renovate the three-storey home.

He submitted plans to Camden Council for an attic conversion to add another bedroom - and also install a "plant room", with a water heater/boiler in it - at the front of his semi-detached home.

Excitement quickly turned to boredom and then displeasure after his builders put up ugly black hoardings around what is a rather pretty homeBenedict Cumberbatch's neighbour

The Harrow-educated actor, who stars in The Jungle book and The Hobbit, also wants to build a rear extension to the property, but has promised not to cut down an established magnolia tree.

A sticking point, which has been raised by Camden Council - and neighbours - is the boiler room, which according to plans would be "installed in the front garden beneath the existing retaining wall".

The plans state the road "is a wide, tree-lined avenue with substantial detached, semi-detached and short terraces of mid to late Victorian and Edwardian villas.

"There is an established residential land use pattern across the area."

But the council report states that it might need to call for an "acoustic report" to find out if there are any "noise issues" related to the plant room in the front garden.

The interior of Benedict Cumberbatch's three-storey London homeCredit:
STIAN ALEXANDER

The report states: "An acoustic report would be required to accompany the application to check there would be no noise issues in relation to the plant room in the front garden."

The council report states that the alterations are 'generally acceptable', concluding: "The proposed rear extension and access stair are considered generally acceptable, as are the fenestration changes.

"The front rooflight should be reduced in size and the rear dormer should be revised to be a more traditional style.

"An acoustic report will need to accompany the plant room and proposed landscaping of the front garden should be provided in a plan."

Cumberbatch bought the five-bedroom villa in for just over £2.7m last AprilCredit:
STIAN ALEXANDER

In a letter from Ian Wallbank, the head of acoustic services at building consultants Stroma Tech dated April 20 2016, he says the so-called plant room is due to be fitted with a "hot water boiler".

He said that normally it would not cause a "noise issue" and he is currently awaiting the council's decision on whether or not to do a night time noise assessment.

His letter to Camden Council states: "We would need to visit site and undertake a background noise assessment at the nearest noise sensitive receiver over the night time period and undertake calculations to determine compliance with relevant guidelines."

He adds: "This would be an onerous requirement to assess the noise impact from a domestic boiler and I would ask the planning Authority (Camden Council) to clarify their expectations on noise limits should it be confirmed a noise impact assessment is required."

Camden Council is set to make a decision on whether to send noise inspectors to the propertyCredit:
STIAN ALEXANDER

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said locals were "annoyed" when the actor did not move in last April - saying the house is in "perfect order".

She told local newspaper the Camden New Journal: "There was a little frisson of excitement that he was moving into the neighbourhood. We were hoping he may come and present some prizes at our street party.

"But the excitement quickly turned to boredom and then displeasure after his builders put up ugly black hoardings around what is a rather pretty home and then left it empty for ages."

Another neighbour, who again asked not to be identified, said: "I see he's getting his attic converted and wants a rear extension to the basement, but the thing that's got people worried is this boiler room at the front of the house.

"We don't know if it's going to be this big noisy boiler room or not - and the council and architects can't seem to make their minds up as to whether it will be a problem or not."

Cumberbatch also wants to build a rear extension to the propertyCredit:
STIAN ALEXANDER

The actor's architects, Charles Tashima, said in planning documents that the plans "would respect and preserve the original design and proportions of the building, including its architectural period and style".

It states that none of the changes could be seen from public spaces or "adversely affect the conservation area".

The actor bought the house after the death of solicitor Judy Walker, who died last year and was renowned for holding an annual Bonfire Night party.

She was married to the late Labour councillor at Camden Council Ivor Walker, who died in 2009.